Liquor Licenses

New Jersey’s Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) regulates the sale and consumption of alcohol in the state but delegates the routine licensing and enforcement tasks to the individual municipalities. Consequently, the township council serves as the issuing authority and the township clerk’s office handles the issuance, renewal and transfer of liquor licenses within Vernon Township.

The overview and form downloads which follow cover the most commonly requested information. For further assistance, please contact the Vernon Township Clerk at 973.764.4055, ext. 2234.

Retail Licenses

As already mentioned, retail liquor licenses are handled by the township clerk’s office. With the exception of renewals, most licensing activity undertaken by licensees is initiated by way of the 12-page Application for Retail Alcoholic Beverage License.

This application is to be used for new licenses, person-to-person and place-to-place transfers, partnership changes, changes in corporate structure and extensions of the license to an administrator, executor, trustee or other court-appointed fiduciary. The individual pages of this application are also used to amend information when completion of the entire application is not required. Since the same application is used for all types of licenses, you may find that some of the requested information does not apply to your particular situation. Detailed instructions are included in the application package.

Renewals

The licensing period for retail licenses runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year and licenses must be renewed annually. Licenses are renewed utilizing preprinted renewal forms provided to the township by the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The township clerk’s office mails out these renewal forms to licensees upon receipt from the state. To allow sufficient time for processing and action by the township council, renewals must be submitted to the township clerk no later than June 1. Licensees who misplace the preprinted renewal form will be required to complete and submit the full 12-page application linked above. No renewals will be approved without a tax clearance certificate from the New Jersey Division of Taxation.

Fees

All fees, payable by check or money order to Vernon Township, are to accompany the application at the time of filing with the township clerk. In addition to the municipal fees outlined below, there is a separate $200.00 filing fee payable by certified check or money order to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control for all new licenses, transfers and renewals.

Municipal Fees

Plenary retail consumption

$1,026.43

Club

$188.00

Plenary retail distribution:

Effective January 1, 2012

$426.81

Effective May 1, 2018

$512.17

Effective May 1, 2019

$614.60

Effective May 1, 2020

$737.52

Effective May 1, 2021

$885.02

Effective May 1, 2022

$1,026.43

Limited retail distribution

$63.00

Hotel/motel:

Effective January 1, 2012

$855.36

Effective May 1, 2018

$1,026.43

Person-to-person transfer

10% of the annual license fee

Place-to-place transfer

10% of the annual license fee

Combined person-to-person/place-to-place transfer

20% of the annual license fee

Special Permits

Application for Catering Permit

A retail licensee who wishes to sell/dispense/serve alcoholic beverages somewhere other than its licensed premises must submit an application for a permit authorizing such activity. The fee for this permit is $100.00 per day.

Application for Special Permit for Social Affair

Nonprofit organizations that wish to hold a fundraising event at which alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase must submit an application for a permit authorizing this activity. Pursuant to state code, the monies derived from the event should be used for civic, religious, educational or other purposes that are not for personal or profit making corporate gain. Organizations are limited to 12 one-day special permits in a calendar year. The fee for this permit is $100.00 per day for civic, religious and educational organizations and $150.00 for any other type of nonprofit organization.

Petition to Extend Licensed Premises

A retail consumption licensee who wishes to hold an event in an area that is off the licensed premises but on property that is contiguous to it must apply for this permit. This permit is usually issued to allow for the sale of alcoholic beverages in a parking lot, outside lawn area, etc. The fee for this permit is $75.00 per day.

If you are applying for one of these permits less than 21 days prior to the event date, you will need to contact the ABC and the township clerk.